Tool cabinet and workbench



March 4, 1952 A. P. FOX ET AL 2,537,829

TOOL CABINET AND WORKBENCH Filed Dec. 51., 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l March 4, 1952 A. P. FOX ETAL.

TOOL CABINET AND WORKBENCH S'Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1948 March 4, 1952 A. P. FOX ETAL TOOL CABINET AND WORKBENCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 51, 1948 Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOL CABINET AND WORKBENCH Alexander P. Fox, University City, and August D. Reisert, St. Louis, Mo., assignors to Lincoln Engineering Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application December 31, 1948, Serial No. 68,574

' specific features, to metal apparatus of this class for use as a repairmans service station in garages and the like.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a combined tool cabinet and workbench providing a rigid working surface with a conveniently located openable and closable tool cabinet wherein vibrations caused by working on the bench are isolated from the cabinet; and the provision of a combination of the class described wherein the cover for the tool cabinet forms an effective advertising display surface whether open or closed. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the combination showing the tool cabinet thereof in open position;

Fig. -2 is a plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a right-side view of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary isometric view illustrating a closed condition of the tool cabinet;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1, showing a wash container in a retracted storage position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the wash container in extended position;

Fig. 7 is an isometric view of said wash container in withdrawn position and illustrating a cooperative drain basket accessory;

Fig. 8 is a detail exploded view of a slide assemspending parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The present invention is directed primarily to equipment for garages and the like. In establishments of this class, it is desirable to have a mechanic who does a particular type of work (for example, electrical work, brake work, body work, etc.) at a fixed station incorporating a workbench, a tool cabinet for his specialized tools, and usually a wash container for washing parts worked upon. Such stations, for best customer appeal, should be compact and modern in appearance, providing the essentials for a mechanic working at the station and displaying prominently the type of service rendered at his station. It is preferable that such a station form a sufficient storage space for the usual tools employed by the mechanic.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, numeral i in general indicates a workbench component of the invention, numeral 3 a tool cabinet component, and numeral 5 a wash container component.

The workbench component is constituted by a top 1 providing a flat working space, supported upon end panels 9. The panels are stiffened at their forward edges by providing each with a U-turn i i. This directs their margins i3 inward. The margins I3 are turned in on arcs of substantial radii, so that a semi-tubular type of support is afforded.

The inner edges of the margins i3 are formed as angled stiffening flanges IS. The other margins of the panels 9 are angled as shown at l1, being provided with inturned stiffening flanges l9 to form supporting channels. Supported upon angle irons 2| on the end panels 9 is a bottom shelf 23. In view of the above construction, the top I considerably overhangs the shelf 23 in a forward direction. A flanged rear inset panel 25 closes in the back of the bench between the top 1 and the shelf 23, leaving open the back of the bench under the shelf. This provides for easy cleaning beneath the bench.

The forms of the margins of panels 9 at the front and rear provide for a rugged supporting construction for the bench top that at the same time has a simple and modern appearance.

Substantially all of the bench parts, as well as the parts to be described, are formed of metal. The chief exception is a non-metallic facing 21 which may be applied to the top 1, as required. The shelf 23 is for a portable tool cabinet if the mechanic employs his own.

Referring now to the tool cabinet section 3. it is constituted by hollow, shell-like end panels 29, joined by means of a bottom 3| and a back 33. These panels are rounded at their front upper corners. Elsewhere these end panels are spaced apart without an intermediate connection. The

is; hinged a front cover 47, as shown at 49.

'top cover is curved as shown at to match ward from the ends of bench section I, a rubber molding 4| being employed between the top I and the bottom 3|. The cabinet extends rearward from the rear of the bench I and only a narrow forward portion of the bottom of the cabinet overlies the top of the bench (Figs. 2 and 3).

The molding prevents articles on the'bench from being lost over the back of the bench and under the tool cabinet. The sections I and 3 are bolted to the floor. From the above it will be clear that fany vibrations of the bench section caused by working thereon will be isolated from the tool cabinet. This is a desirable feature'where all parts are made of metal, andreduces noise and clatter from parts stored in the tool cabinet and from the display parts associated therewith and V to bedescribed below.)

The tool cabinet is provided with a special closure comprising a hollow top cover 43 reariwardly hinged at 4 5 to the upper edge of the back33. To the'front edge of the top cover 43 The 4 irons 13. Bolted to the inside of each iron is an inner channel 15 within which telescopes an intermediate slide TI. An outer slide channel 19 telescopes with the intermediate slide 11. Struckout stops 8! limit the extent to which the members 15, 11, 19 may be extended by telescoping, as illustrated in Fig. 6. The slide channels 19 support a bracket 83 upon which is carried a liquid-tight solvent container 85, having a bottom drain plug 87!. This container has located across the sides of its mouth spaced tubes 89. These intersect the front and back of the container and form guides for rods 9!. These rods at their'front ends carry a bracket 93 which supportsa sloping captive drain tray 95, the latter having an inner flange 91 forming a limiting stop engaging the front of the container 85 when pulled open. As an accessory may be used a drain basket 99 having a pivoted bail HM and a reticulated bottom I63. This basket is accepted in the container '85 between the guide tubes 89. When "'soaccepte'd and the bail ID! is turned down,the

. drain pan 95 may be pushed over to form a closure for the container 85. The latter may then be pushed into the retracted position shown in Fig. 5. The parts maybe pulled out to the Fig. 6

position, wherein the container 85 is just'beyond drain pan95 for drainage of excess solvent back (when closed) thecurvature 53 of the top corners of the cabinet end shells 29. This serves two purposes: firstjtobrin'g the hinge 59 well down when the covers 43 and i! are placed in closed position, as shown in Fig. 4; and second, to place the ,plane of the open front cover 4's well forward of j the rear of the device when open .(see Fig. 3). These are desirable features because the front cover 41 also serves the purpose of a display panel to advertise, for example, the services being rendered by the operator who works at the bench.,.

-theQcover 41, its lower corners are provided with pins 59.carrying rollers 6| operative in guide grooves.63;formedon the inner edges of the cabinet ends 29. These grooves, beyond. their curves at thecorners 53, are formed with upper-end, de-

. presseddetent cams 65, with which the rollers 6! cooperate when the covers are open, to hold the open positicn of cover parts shown in Figs. 1-3. Knobs 6'! provide for manually actuating the covers to open and closed positions. Thus the tool cabinet when closed oropen provides an effectivedisplay area. As above stated, workingblows .upon..the bench are not transmitted to the tool vcabinet, nor to the metal display panel, which mightotherwise undesirably reverberate.

If .desired, suitable electrical and/or air outvletsmay-beilocated in the lower forward areas of the cabinet-ends 29, the locations being indicated at -num eral 69. Theoutlets have not been shown .at:thesepointsbecause their use and forms are optional.

Referringnow to the wash container section 5,

.it comprises an L-shaped bracket 1|, the lower end of which is supported upontheshelf 23 and .the upper end upon one end panelil. This shape .of the bracket providesstorage space beneath it. On its upper surface it carries a pair of angle into the container. Also, the-container may be pulled out while the pan is left as an upper closure for it, in which event the drain tray may be used as aconvenient place temporarilytolay small, parts such as nuts, bolts, washers-etc. Or, the'tray may be'pulled forwardbeyond the bench top-without pulling out the container. When not in use, the wash container assembly may be pushed into the retracted position shown in Fig.5. .While the wash container assembly is shown as being mounted upon the bracket H, it will be evident that it could be suspended from the bottom of the bench top I. o In view of the above, it will be seen that we have provided a'comb'ination workbench and tool cabinet arrangement which is particularly useful for public workshops such as garages, filling stations, and the like, wherein .neatness, quietness of activity, and a display effect are at a premium, .whetherpor not the apparatus concerned'is in orrout of use. Moreover, the construction ,is strong but provides in work shop furniture a desirable modern appearance such'jas is ordinarily associated with less strong office furniture. p 7

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the .invention are. achieved and otheradvantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing fro nthe scope 'of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown'in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted V as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. a -We claim V 1 1 In combination, a workbenchhaving a 'flat top providing a fiat Workingsp-ace, a tool'cabinet mounted on legs supporting it above acfioor in position extending from end to end and at the rear of the .workbench'withthe bottom of the cabinet spaced above the top of the "workbench and with thecabinet-supporting' legs spaced from the-workbenclrand a resilient molding inthe 5 space between the top of the workbench and the bottom of the cabinet.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the cabinet has end panels joined by a bottom and a back and the cabinet-supporting legs fixed to the end panels and are spaced outward from the ends of the workbench.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2, where in the cabinet extends rearward from the rear of the workbench and only a narrow forward portion of the bottom of the cabinet overlies the top of the workbench.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the cabinet has a display-forming front door which is mounted for upward and downward movement between a lower vertical closed position and a raised vertical open position.

ALEXANDER P. FOX. AUGUST D. REISERT.

REFERENCES CITED' The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 271,724 Mathias Feb. 6, 1883 860,822 Pitcher July 23, 1907 1,244,609 Hood et a1. Oct. 30, 1917 1,829,256 Benziger Oct. 27, 1931 1,975,004 Jenkins Sept. 25, 1934 2,186,316 Balster Jan. 9, 1940 2,274,553 Klinke Feb. 24, 1942 2,302,782 Loeb et a1. Nov. 24, 1942 2,327,761 Brodbeck Aug. 24, 1943 2,338,727 Mastrangelo Jan. 11, 1944 

